Apparatus for washing fruit



w. F. BOETTGER APPARTUS FOR WASHING FRUIT Jan. 1 7, 1939.

Filed Jan. lO, 1958 f! 147 M 165 v 162 1M M zal 156 .3 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 17, 1939. w. F. BOETTGER APPARATUS FOR WASHING FRUIT 3 Sheets-Shee't 2 ,Filed Jan'. 1o, 195s j.. l?, M39. w. F. BOETTGER r APPARATUS FOR WASHING FRUIT Filed Jan. 1o, 193s 5 sheets-sheet l5 WGH@ Patented Jan. 17, 1939 UNITE STATES ATEVT 2 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of preparing fresh fruit for the market and has particular utility in Washing said fruit.

The fruit washer art includes a wide variety of species, each of which is directed to the solution of problems peculiar to the handling of a particular kind of fruit. The Washing of apples for instance is complicated by the problem of having to remove arsenic spray residue from the fruit so as to meet the low tolerances prescribed by the various governments under which the fruit. is packed and shipped. The arsenic spray seems to be the only way yet found by which the farmers can kill those moths, the larva of which are the worms commonly found in apples, and as the spray is poisonous it must be almost entirely removed from the apples to prevent poisoning of the people eating these. A weak solution of muriatic acid `has been accepted as the best available Solvent of this poison, and the art of apple washers has been largely concerned With the problems of using this acid for removing the arsenic from apples Without damaging the washer or the fruit. One of the main difficulties met with in washing apples with muriatic acid is the tendency of the acid to attack most materials ordinarily used in building washers. Another difficulty has been the application of the acid in a manner to secure the necessary cleaning action and yet do this with sufficient gentleness so as not to injure the fruit.

It is an object of my invention to provide a method of and apparatus for Washing fresh whole fruit which will be applicable to the washing of poisonous residue from apples.

A common step in the treating of fruit incidental to preparing the same for packing is to submerge the fruit in a bath of treating liquid. This is commonly done in a tank equipped with a submerging draper. In operating these drapers an accumulation 'of debris in the treating solution occurs which requires frequent draining of the tank for the removal of the debris. As the draper practically covers the top of this tank the cleaning operation is a very diflicult one.

It is another object of my invention to provide a tank for holdinga treating solution for treating fresh whole fruit and a Vdraper for submerging fruit in said solution which draper may with relatively small labor be disposed to give access to the tank so as to facilitate the tank being cleaned.

The manner of accomplishing the foregoing objects as well as further objects and advantages will be made apparent in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings n Which- (ci. 14e- 194) Fig. 1 is a plan View of a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional View taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l, and illustrating the drive mechanism of the draper of my invention.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, illustrating the fruit elevator and plunger of my invention in upward position.

Fig. i is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 3, 10 illustrating the fruit elevator and pump plunger of my invention in downward position.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the fruit elevator and pump plunger reciprocating mechanism of my invention and is taken on line 3 5 of l5 Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5 and illustrating the details of construction or" the plunger of my invention.

Referring specically to the drawings, these illustrate a fruit washer it comprising a preferred embodiment of my invention. This washer includes a solution tank Il, a fruit discharge elevater-pump l2, fruit submerging draper I3, and a 25 fruit feed conveyor Hl.

The tank il is preferably made of redwood to resist the action of acid solution contained therein and includes a bottom 2E), ends 2l and 22, and side walls 23 which are rabbeted together. Pro- 30 vided on the side walls 23 are a number of legs 25,

26, 2l, 28 and 29, which rest upon a concrete drain floor 33 so as to support the tank ll. The drain iioor 30 has a low Wall 3l which surrounds the Washer l@ and a drain sump 32 which discharges 35 into a sewer.

If desired the floor 23 and the side walls 33 may be continued past the end wall 2l so as to provide a rinse tank 33 in which a body of rinse water 3d may be placed for rinsing fruit washed vin the 40 washer lil. A spray manifold 35 is mounted across the receiving end of the rinse tank 33 so as to throw a spray 353 into the rinse water 34. The bottom 2@ of the tank l l is provided with a drain hole 3l which is adapted to be closed by a gasketed 45 plug Sil held upwardly against the bottom 23 by a pry bar 33. This bar is supported at one end on a block it fixed on a board il secured upon the outer face of one of the side walls 23 (see Fig. 5), and at the other end by a block l2 slipped under 50 the pry bar 38.

Mounted in the tank ll just above the oor 2i! is a solution heater l5 which includes a large U-shaped tube 4E, the opposite `ends of which pass through and form a sealed connection with 55 one of the walls 23. A fuel burner (not shown) is provided, the combustion gases of which are discharged through the pipe 45 for heating a body of fruit treating solution 4l contained in the tank Installed within the tank is a cross wall 5l] from the upper end of which, diaphragm supporting moldings 5l, which are secured to the inner faces of tank side walls 23, extend to the wall 22. Supported at their opposite ends on the moldings 5l are a series of boards 52 ccmprising a jet forming diaphragm 53, the boards 52 being spaced in any suitable manner, as by spacer buttons secured to edges thereof, to provide jet forming slots 55 and 55. The slot 55 is larger than the slots 54 and is located adjacent the wall 22 at the fruit receiving end of the machine. Extending between one of the boards 52 and the bottom 25 of the tank adjacent to the wall 5l! is a screen 56.

The elevator-pump 12 The wall 56 is provided with a discharge port 60 which extends substantially the entire distance along this lower edge, and is adapted to be closedby a discharge valve 5| hinged from the wall 50 and resting in its lowermost position on a valve seat |52 which is built around the port $5.

The tank walls 2|, 23 and 50 unite to enclose a pump chamber 65 which is preferably lined with thin hardwood strips 56 applied to these walls. The chamber B5 extends clear across the tank ll as shown in Fig. 5, the lining 55 having a suitable opening coextensive with the exhaust port 60.

The elevator-pump l2 has a vertical reciprocating carriage assembly 5l including a pair of uprights 63 which lie just within the lining 55 applied to inner faces of the walls 23 (see Figs. l, 5 and 6). The uprights 58 are equipped with rollers lll which travel in slots ll of guide frames 'l2 provided on the posts 25 (see Figs. 3, 4 and 5).

Mounted on and supported by the lower ends of the uprights 68 is a pump plunger 'l5 (see Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6), which includes a pair of metallic angle pieces 16, the latter being bolted to lower ends of the uprights 58 as shown in Fig. 6. When thus secured in place the angle pieces lli have horizontal portions Tl, the lower faces of which are in the same horizontal plane with the extreme lower planes of the uprights 68.

Lying just beneath the plane last mentioned and secured to the horizontal portions Tl of the angle pieces lli by bolts 'i8 and 'i9 are wooden bars 85 and 8|, which are coextensive in length with the chamber 55. The bolts 18 pass through neat holes in the angle pieces 16 to secure the bar to the latter in a fixed position. The bar 8D is recessed, along the edge thereof which lies adjacent to the wall 55, to receive wooden pickets 82 which are rigidly secured in place on this bar. This same edge of the bar 83 is then faced by a metallic plate 83 which extends the entire length of the bar.

The bolts 19 extend through slots 85 in the angle pieces, so as to be slidable horizontally forward and away from the bar 80. The bar 8| is faced throughout its length by a metal strip 85 along the edge thereof which lies adjacent the wall 2|.

Rigidly secured by a screw 8l at one end thereof to an inner face of the bar 8B so as to lie between the latter and the bar 8| is a wooden spring bar 88. The opposite end of the spring bar 88 is held under stress by a wood screw 9i) so as to constantly exert a yieldable force which maintains the bars 85 and 8l separated and with their metal facings 83 and 8S held pressed against the hardwood lining 55 of the pump chamber 55. lf desired, two of the springs 58 may be provided at opposite ends of the plunger 'l5 for holding the bars 8l) and ill in expanded relation.

The open space between the bars Sil and 8| forms a traveling valve passageway 55 for the plunger l5. Secured at one edge to the bottom face of the bar 8l and controlling the passageway is a traveling valve ilap 55 as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. This flap may be formed of rubber, heavy belting or any other suitable flexible material and extends throughout the length of plunger l5.

The elevator-pump l2 also has an elevator tray lllll (see Figs. l, 3, 4 and 5) which includes beams lill and |52 which are rigidly secured at their opposite ends to metallic angle pieces 03, the latter being pivotally supported between the uprights 68 by pins 05. When angle pieces |53 are in their normal horizontal position oi rest, as shown in Fig. 4, they engage pins lll provided in said uprights. The beams lill and l have aiixed thereto a series of spaced yieldable straps lill' which are adapted for lifting and supporting fruit as will be pointed out hereinafter.

lounted on side walls 23 (see Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5) and extending upwardly therefrom close to and parallel with the uprights 58 are slide standards lill, having slots lll which are adapted to slidably receive pins |l2, provided on the upper ends of links ilS, the lower ends of which are pivotally connected by pins l lll to eccentric portions of the angle pieces |53. Fastened at their lower ends to the pins H2 and at their upper ends to the tops of the uprights 58 are contractile springs l l5 which normally maintain the elevator tray lill? in its horizontal position on the upright 53 as shown in Fig. 4.

The upper ends of the uprights 68 are connected by a bar i, which serves as a wrist pin for pitrnen ltl, the upper ends or which are pivotally supported on cranks |22 provided on opposite ends of a shaft 23, the latter being journalled in suitable bearings provided on a superstructure |24 which is supported on posts 25 and 25. The shaft |23 has a master gear |25 which meshes with a drive pinion l 2l on a shaft |28 which is also journalled in the upper structure l2@ and is adapted to be rotated by a drive sprocket |29 fixed upon said shaft.

The rotation of the shaft l23 causes the reciprocation of the assembly carrier 6l, carrying the plunger 'l5 and the elevator tray lfl, between its lowermost position shown in Fig. 4, and its uppermost position shown in Fig. 3. In the latter of said positions it is seen that the pins l|2 engage the upper limits of the slots l l l thus halting the upward movements of the links lit and rocking the tray les. When the tray lll is thus tilted its lower edge is next to and in alignment with the upper surface of a fruit drop board |36 which is mounted on the upper edge of and is coextensive with the wall 2 l.

Fruit submergi'ng cl'rape 13 Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 it is to be noted that a drive shaft lll is journalled in bearings lill provided on upper ends of post 2l. This drive shaft has a drive sprocket lllE by which it is rotated preferably at a relatively slow rate a chain |43. Shaft Erle is surrounded by bearings ldfl which lie just within the bearings lill and directly over the tank side walls 23. Secured at their forward ends to the bearings IM are independent frame members H55 which are rigidly spaced by cross members It@ and support, at their rear ends, bearings Ilil in which is journalled an idle shaft i113. When `in lowered position the frame members M5 are supported by blocks R55 provided upon the upper edges of the tank walls 23. Provided on the shafts |45 and E58 are washers I55, which lie just inside the bearings idd and im, and hubbed flanges H55 which are spaced inwardly from the washers H55. Disposed between the washers E55 and flanges E55 and freely rotatable about the shafts i4@ and Hi8 are solid wood pulleys Mii).

Trained about pulleys E50 are iiexible rubber belts i6! carrying at spaced intervals along the outer surfaces thereof draper siats 52. Certain of vthese slats are provided with fruit propelling blades It and with impulsion receiving blades 95d, the former extending outwardly and the latter inwardly from the slats on which they are mounted (see Figs. 2 and 3). Fixed on the shaft Ide are flanges H5 carrying impellers iii, the opposite ends of which are adapted to engage the impulsion receivingr blades idd as shaft Mi@ rotates thereby transmitting motion to the draper i3 in the direction of the arrows adjacent thereto in Fig. 3.

Feed conveyor 14 This conveyor is positioned to discharge fruit F onto a sloping drop board H5 which is mounted upon the upper edge of the tank wall 22. The conveyor lli includes side boards ESE having suitable bearings in which a drive shaft i5! is journalled and to which are rigidly xed sprockets E32 carrying endless chains E83 on which are mounted fruit supporting rollers me. The side boards it are adapted to be supported by wood brackets W5 attached to the tank end 22. Suitable power means (not shown) is provided for rotating the shaft Mii. Fruit is then manually fed onto the lower end of the conveyor it so as to cause a stream of fruit of constant Value to be fed over the drop board l5 and into the fruit treating solution.

Operation While the apparatus embodied in my fruit washer i5 is suitable for many different uses in the treatment of fruit it is particularly adapted for the washing of apples from which it is necessary to remove poison spray residue. The operation of this apparatus will, therefore, now be described.

The tank 22 is rst filled with treating solution il up to the level shown in Fig. 3, this solution preferably comprising a dilute solution of muriatic acid. When the apparatus i il is built for use with such an acid solution all of the metal parts which are exposed to the treating solution tl' are preferably of a rust resisting alloy such as Monel metal.

A re is then provided in the heater i5 to maintain the acid solution fil at a suitable temperature, this being preferably somewhere between to 120 F. After the tank 53 has been filled with rinse water 34 to the level shown, fresh rinse water is supplied under pressure to the pipe 35 so that this is discharged in the form of a spray 35 as shown in Fig. 3.

Suitable power means is now applied to cause the normal operation of the fruit discharge elevator-pump I2, fruit draper I3 and fruit feed conveyor i6. A stream of fruit F is thus fed into the acid solution 4l and is caught by the-draper I3, submerged thereby, and conveyed while thus submerged in the solution 4l to the discharge end of the draper where the fruit is released and permitted to float to the surface of the solution adjacent the fruit discharge elevator-pump I2.

The vertical reciprocation of the plunger 'I5 has the following results. On the up stroke of the plunger the acid solution i? disposed above this passes downwardly through the valve opening of the plunger into the pump chamber 65. This is facilitated by the automatic closing of the pump discharge valve 5I and the automatic opening of the traveling valve 95 located on the plunger.

On the down stroke of the plunger 'I5 the acid solution within the chamber 65 of the pump passes through the port 5i), opens the discharge valve EI and flows into the lower portion of the tank I I beneath the diaphragm 53. A hydrostatic equilibrium is maintained by the discharge of an equivalent amount of acid solution upwardly through the jet openings 54 and 55 causing linear jets of acid solution to be projected through the solution against the fruit F being conveyed horizontally in submerged condition beneath the draper I3. The force of these jets is designed to be just suicient to enter the stem and blossom ends of the fruit subjected thereto, so as to wash away the poison residue adhering to the surface of the fruit in these cavities. The fact that these jets must pass through the solution itself before impinging upon the surface of the fruit avoids the danger of injuring the fruit by the damping effect on the jets thus produced.

While the jet opening 55 might be of the same size as the jet openings 54, it is preferably slightly larger so that such a portion of the acid solution beneath the diaphragm 53 will pass through the opening 55 as is adequate to carry the fruit discharged over the drop board 75 into a position beneath the right hand end of the draper I3 so that this fruit will be caught by the slats |62 and members |63 and drawn into submerged position beneath the draper.

The reciprocation of the plunger 'l5 as above described is incidental to that of the carriage 61 on which the plunger is mounted. As this carriage moves downward the tray Il carried thereby is lowered in horizontal position. At the same time the pumping action of the plunger T5 withdraws acid solution from the tank above this plunger causing a rapid flow of the solution in the direction of the tray I as the latter is submerged as shown in Fig. 4. This flow of solution carries with it a considerable quantity of the fruit F so that this fruit comes to overly the tray E50 as shown in this figure. With the upward movement of the carriage 57, the valve 96 of the plunger 'I5 opens so that there is no return ilow of the uid which has brought the fruit over the tray. As the tray is foraminous in character it rises readily through the solution and picks up the fruit floating thereabove. As the carriage 6'! approaches the end of its upward stroke the pins i i2 engage the tops of the slots I II in the standards H5, thus causing the tray |60 to rock into -the position in which it is shown in Fig. 3. This inclination effects the discharge by gravity of the fruit carried on the tray over the drop board and into the rinse water 313. As the fruit enters this water the spray 3S thoroughly rinses the fruit and impells it away from the drop board 30. This assures that the next load of fruit will strike the rinse water and not fruit previously delivered thereto. A source of damage to the fruit is thus eliminated.

While I have shown only a single embodiment of the apparatus of my invention it is to be understood that various changes may be made in this as Well as in the manner of carrying out the method of my invention Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a fruit washer, the' combination of: a tank for holding -a body oi fruit adapted to have fresh whole fruit submerged therein; a substantially horizontal diaphragm submerged in said tank so as to substantially separate those portions of said solution above and below said diaphragm, there being jet aperture means in said diaphragm; pump means at one end of said tank and including a vertical pump barrel, a plunger vertically reciprocal therein, and power carriage means vfor carrying and vertically reciprocating said plunger in said barrel, an elevator tray mounted on said plunger carriage means and reciprocated vertically therewith between positions beneath the level of said solution and above the level of said solution; and means for -tilting said tray when in elevated position to dis- 

